WildRoseBeef
Range nerd & bovine enthusiast
What were these calves being fed before you got them, do you know? And what kind of grain are you feeding now (i.e., cracked corn, oats, barley. etc.)?
There are mixed feeds available for dairy cattle like dairy starter or dairy grower or starter supplement that have a CP content of at least 20%. I wouldn't worry so much about fat content as I would energy (as TDN or total digestible nutrients), and protein, but just know that fat content in cattle diets cannot get over 4 to 5% fat otherwise it will impair rumen function, so use it sparingly.
Protein and energy is really important for growing calves. "Medium" protein is pretty ambiguous, and for 2 month old steers, if it refers to only ~10% protein that's not enough. The amount of protein that weaned beef steers need is 10% less than what dairy steers need post-weaning. Which means that if early-weaned beef calves need 18% protein, Holstein steers would need 28% protein. Protein content requirements decline as they get older, so keep in mind to not keep feeding the same CP% feeds when they get to be yearlings. By that time you'll need to decrease CP% to around 20 to 22%.
If you choose to continue to keep feeding the same grain you're feeding them now, maybe consider upping the anti with some protein supplement like soybean meal or cottonseed meal.
Let them have access to a trace mineral block or loose mineral with salt. Keep ad libitum access throughout your time in keeping them.
You could try to see if you can get close enough to them to get them cleaner, but your best bet is to give them time to settle down and gain your trust before starting to get them tamed enough so you can brush or wash them. Give them a couple of weeks, because remember you just got them today!!
See if you can get something fixed up, like some paige wire or what-not so they have access to some of the outdoors before they're ready or big enough for the pasture.
There are mixed feeds available for dairy cattle like dairy starter or dairy grower or starter supplement that have a CP content of at least 20%. I wouldn't worry so much about fat content as I would energy (as TDN or total digestible nutrients), and protein, but just know that fat content in cattle diets cannot get over 4 to 5% fat otherwise it will impair rumen function, so use it sparingly.
Protein and energy is really important for growing calves. "Medium" protein is pretty ambiguous, and for 2 month old steers, if it refers to only ~10% protein that's not enough. The amount of protein that weaned beef steers need is 10% less than what dairy steers need post-weaning. Which means that if early-weaned beef calves need 18% protein, Holstein steers would need 28% protein. Protein content requirements decline as they get older, so keep in mind to not keep feeding the same CP% feeds when they get to be yearlings. By that time you'll need to decrease CP% to around 20 to 22%.
If you choose to continue to keep feeding the same grain you're feeding them now, maybe consider upping the anti with some protein supplement like soybean meal or cottonseed meal.
Let them have access to a trace mineral block or loose mineral with salt. Keep ad libitum access throughout your time in keeping them.
You could try to see if you can get close enough to them to get them cleaner, but your best bet is to give them time to settle down and gain your trust before starting to get them tamed enough so you can brush or wash them. Give them a couple of weeks, because remember you just got them today!!
See if you can get something fixed up, like some paige wire or what-not so they have access to some of the outdoors before they're ready or big enough for the pasture.
